Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday called out to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Gujarat to join his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) while remaining in the ruling party, news agency PTI reported.
Kejriwal stated that BJP workers should continue to receive “payment” from the BJP while working for AAP “from within.”
On the penultimate day of his two-day tour to poll-bound Gujarat, Kejriwal told a news conference in Rajkot that BJP workers will benefit from all of the “guarantees” he promised people if his party wins power in the state.
“We do not want BJP leaders. The BJP can keep its leaders. BJP’s ‘panna pramukhs’, workers in villages, booths and talukas are joining us in droves. I would like to ask them what the BJP gave them in return for their service in the party even after so many years?” the AAP national convener was quoted by PTI in its report.
According to Kejriwal, the BJP does not provide free and high-quality education, healthcare, or electricity to BJP employees and their families, but the AAP would look after their needs.
“You (BJP workers) can stay in that party but work for AAP. Many of them get paid (by BJP), so take the payment from there but work for us, because we do not have money,” he said.
“When we form a government, we will provide free electricity, and this will apply to your houses as well. We will provide you with free, 24-hour power, and build good schools for your children where they will get free education. We will ensure free and quality treatment for your family members and offer Rs 1,000 to women (as allowance) in your family,” he said.
In an appeal to saffron party supporters, Kejriwal stated that staying in the BJP and securing its success after 27 years of control is pointless.
“I would like to tell all the BJP workers to stay there but work for the AAP. You are smart, work for AAP from the inside,” he further said.
He brought up the recent attack on Gujarat AAP general secretary Manoj Sorathiya and predicted that many more attacks will be carried out “on the people of Gujarat for supporting AAP.”
“The attack on Manoj Sorathiya shows that BJP is desperate. It is not able to understand what to do. It is staring at a defeat,” he said.
According to Kejriwal, the AAP is not like the Congress and cannot be frightened by the ruling party.
Challenging the ruling BJP, he said, “You have dealt with Congress so far, but we are AAP people. We consider Sardar Patel and Bhagat Singh as our ideals”.
Kejriwal stated that if the BJP believes it can intimidate AAP by organising such attacks, it is mistaken.
“We are not going to be scared. We are not cowards. We will fight hard against injustice and corruption. Six crore people of Gujarat now have an alternative (in AAP). They will respond to the 27 years of misgovernance (of BJP),” he said.
He urged people not to resort to violence.
“I would like to tell the people that the number of attacks will increase in the coming 2-3 months not just on AAP but on the people. They will attack those people who say they will vote for AAP. Those who speak against BJP will be attacked. They are going to attack people in large numbers,”the AAP leader said.
He advised people not to resort to violence, but rather to be patient and show their displeasure by voting out the BJP using the (EVM) button.
Kejriwal, who has announced a series of “guarantees” in an effort to reach out to various sections of society in Gujarat, stated that during his multiple visits to the state, he met representatives of police, anganwadi and ASHA workers, health workers, traffic cops, gramme raksha dal (GRD), auto drivers, and home guards, among others.
The AAP’s head stated that he will meet with each group separately in the coming days.
“We have less time. All of you should promote us in your own ways. Especially promote us on social media…Set social media on fire. I would like to appeal to you all to promote the AAP on social media. We will meet you separately and will resolve your issues,” he said.
Gujarat assembly elections are scheduled for December this year, in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Kejriwal also chastised the state administration for constituting a committee of three ministers to hear protesting organisations’ issues.
“Your intention is not right. You do not want to (resolve the issues of protesting groups). You will offer them lollipops and mislead them. I would like to tell you all to not listen to them,” he said.
On Saturday, the final day of his two-day tour to Gujarat, Kejriwal will attend a ‘townhall’ gathering of sarpanches and ‘village computer entrepreneurs’ in Surendranagar.
He would visit Surat in the evening to perform ‘aarti’ at a Ganesh pandal dubbed ‘AAP Ka Raja’ that has been built up outside the AAP’s office in the Seemada Naka area.
(With Inputs From PTI)